Date: Mon, 16 Jun 1997 15:17:22 -0600 (MDT) From: Wes Peters - Softweyr LLC <softweyr@xmission.com> To: leonardc9@usa.net (Leonard Chung) Cc: questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Are all 8 port 10baseT hubs the same? Message-ID: <199706162117.PAA00310@xmission.xmission.com> In-Reply-To: <l03020900afcac0d84680@[207.171.197.29]> from "Leonard Chung" at Jun 16, 97 02:10:49 am
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> I'm starting to hook up a network with my FreeBSD system, and need to get a
> small 8 port hub. I already have a few computers connected on a ThinNet
> network, so I'm looking at getting a hub with a BNC connector, and possibly
> an AUI port just in case.
>
> Is there any difference between the (many) brands of hubs, or should I just
> go for the cheapest one I can find? I'm thinking that 8 port 10Mb hubs are
> hopefully standardized enough now that there isn't a major difference...
That depends on what you mean by "difference." There are a variety of
8-port hubs, made by different manufacturers, from different chipsets.
Performance-wise, there are some differences, but not that many. Some
of the "high-end" hubs include automatic jabber detection and lockout,
and even network management protocols like SNMP. You'll find the
former on *some* low-end hubs, the latter only on expensive hubs
designed for large organizations. If you own 1 or 2 hubs, and 1 goes
bad, its not too difficult to figure out which one it is.
The one major difference on the low end is tech support: does the
vendor have any? Do you have to pay for it? How long does it last?
I have an Accton (cheap) 5-port hub and a Dayna 12-port hub at home;
both work just fine. I'll recommend the Dayna products because they
work well, the cost is pretty much in line with other brands, *they
offer lifetime tech support*, and because I work for them -- plug
plug!
Your mileage may vary, but I suspect these days 5- and 8-port hubs are
about as "commodity" an item as you can get, along the order of floppy
drives and keyboards. You just plug them in and they work.
> Also, can anybody recommend a good mail order shop (or tell me which ones
> to stay away from ;) ?
DataComm Warehouse: www.warehouse.com. I've ordered every network
device I've ever owned, up until I joined Dayna, from them. One
satisified customer here.
--
"Where am I, and what am I doing in this handbasket?"
Wes Peters Softweyr LLC
http://www.xmission.com/~softweyr softweyr@xmission.com
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